Bereaved Jewish family fronts campaign for brain tumour research

A bereaved Jewish family from north London is fronting a national campaign to raise funds for brain tumour research.

The Rosenberg family from Willesden will appear in marketing material displayed by the charity Brain Tumour Research to promote Wear a Hat Day on 27 March.

The campaign launched in time for Brain Tumour Awareness Month is in its 11th year and has raised over £1.25m to fight the disease.

Ray Rosenberg, a lawyer originally from Manchester, died at the age of 48 in 2001 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour after having a seizure in 1996.

He underwent brain surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

His widow Adrienne said the loss of her husband “had a huge impact on the whole family.” She added: “My youngest Jeremy was only 16 and in the middle of his exams. Our friends were shocked as well, as they didn’t all know the ins and outs of the disease.”

Their son Ben, 41, said: “I was a 22-year-old student when my dad passed away and I was flung into an alternate dimension.

“A hole blown through a happy family home, full of energy and joy. I’m not sure we ever recover from these kinds of tragedies but we just learn to adapt.”

He added: “The way in which dad dealt with his diagnosis was amazing. His treatment didn’t stop him from returning to work and he and mum tried to carry on as normally as possible; continuing to go on holidays, scuba diving and playing tennis.”

In the UK, 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour, according to Brain Tumour Research, which funds research at dedicated centres in the UK.

The disease disproportionately affects children and adults under the age of 40 when compared with other forms of cancer.